Theatre for everyone
“Investments in creativity are investments in the well-being and health of the country. It’s really that simple.”
— David Nairn
An hour north of Toronto, the town of Orangeville is big on small-town vibes with a strong creative flair.
To say the local theatre is embedded in town life seems an understatement.
It all started when a former mayor sought to make good on her vision for a professional theatre company grounded in community service and housed in the historic Opera House.
Since then, Theatre Orangeville has blossomed, attracting performers and patrons near and wide with programing for all ages and abilities.
“I think it’s been a good sign to have a series of town mayors delight when 280 kids come screaming through the building for a show they’re excited about,” explains David Nairn, now in his final season as Theatre Orangeville’s artistic director, after 26 years.
Having the town’s administration and the theatre’s activities in the same historic premises regularly makes for some interesting moments.
Photo courtesy of Theatre Orangeville.
And not just for town employees, but also for tourists who drop in looking for some tips on what to do while visiting the town, not to mention for everyday citizens applying for permits or paying their taxes amid the hubbub of the many theatrical activities on the go.
Activities include the ongoing mainstage productions, the summer festivals, the new play development, the set builds, the authors on-stage conversations and the support for local school productions.
The hubbub also features the steady stream of amateur groups, dance academies and youth for after-school programs, camps, workshops and choir practice, not to mention the ever-popular drag music bingo on Saturday nights.
“From the mayor happily greeting kids en route to a show, to the enthusiasm from local Rotary, Optimist and Lions clubs all clamouring to help manage concessions for special events, there’s a sense of excitement in this community around the theatre,” explains David.
“It’s really the secret sauce of Theatre Orangeville.”
The case for inclusion
One area of the theatre’s activity that evokes special pride in the community is the theatre’s programing for neurodiverse children and adults.
For over 20 years, the theatre has been working with Community Living Dufferin to help shine a light on the experiences of people on the autism spectrum.
“The neurodiverse are always marginalized in every community, and so I think that’s one of the areas that we’ve really been able to serve our community well by empowering these folks to tell their own stories.”
And a lot goes into telling the story right.
Photo courtesy of Theatre Orangeville.
“We throw everything at these unique productions. We work with playwrights and choreographers on both music- and drama-based stories. Folks have direct input into the creation of the script, so the shows are very much about the concerns that they have, whether it’s just the challenge of being seen as different or the worries we all share, like climate change.”
The theatre is also actively sharing with other audiences across the province and beyond through online streaming, raising the bar on people’s understanding of inclusion everywhere.
“We have audiences from all over the world for these shows. People are tuning in to watch the work of these neurodiverse individuals specifically. And that’s a really cool thing.”
A little bit o’ fringe
There’s also the theatre’s work each year to bring in shows from the Toronto Fringe Festival.
“We wanted to provide an opportunity for our local audiences to experience something a bit different, something edgier,” explains David.
Visitors who come to Orangeville wanting to see a show that they missed in the big city sometimes stay overnight, dropping in to local restaurants and businesses as well—it’s a win-win.
In keeping with the fringe vibe, the shows are often staged in non-traditional venues, including a basement speakeasy, a local bar and restaurant, as well as the lobby of the Orangeville Curling Club.
“We aim for venues that serve the nature of the piece, which also introduces our audiences to places they’ve never experienced before here in town. It ends up being quite neat.”
According to David, much of the theatre’s work couldn’t be done without support from its funding partners, including core funding from the Canada Council for the Arts.
“During the pandemic, we all saw how creativity kept us sane in tough moments, whether it was watching an interesting story on Netflix, writing or reading a story or painting a picture — creativity kept people going,” says David.
“Investments in creativity are investments in the well-being and health of the country. It’s really that simple.”
As for Theatre Orangeville, embedded as it is, its future seems firmly linked to that of the town.
“Everyone’s life can be enriched by theatre. When people in this community think of Theatre Orangeville, they don’t just think of entertainment and five mainstage shows a year with a subscription — they see the contribution being made towards a more engaged, healthier community.”
Photo courtesy of Theatre Orangeville.